The Major League Baseball Players Association has delivered a counterproposal to MLB that includes a 70-game season and expanded playoffs in 2020 and 2021.
In a statement announcing the proposal, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said: “We believe this offer represents the basis for an agreement on a resumption of play.”
Among the details in MLBPA’s new proposal, sources told ESPN;s Jeff Pasan:
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70-game season from July 19 through Sept. 30;
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Full pro-rated pay;
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Spring training to begin June 26th-28th;
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Expanded playoffs in 2020 and 2021 season;
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Minimum pool for playoff shares in 2020 based on rounds played, $50 million if full playoff is staged;
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50/50 split of incremental TV revenues for any additional post-season games in ’21;
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Salary Advance forgiveness for all players in Tiers I-III of March agreement;
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Opt-outs — Full service/salary for players who are high risk and those who live with high-risk individuals;
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$10 million for “social justice initiatives” (funded from welfare plan);
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$50 million to be transferred from joint funds (ITF) to the commissioner’s discretionary fund;
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Clubs granted permission to sell advertisements/patches on uniforms in ’20 and ’21;
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Enhanced housing allowances in spring training and regular season;
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Universal DH in ’20 and ’21;
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Parties to collaborate on broadcast enhancements;
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Mutual waiver of potential grievances under the March agreement.
Following a four-hour negotiation in Phoenix between commissioner Rob Manfred and union executive director Tony Clark on Tuesday, MLB emerged believing the framework of a deal had been agreed upon, sources told ESPN. The union disagreed with that accounting, and players Wednesday said they viewed MLB’s proposed 60-game schedule as too short.
Absent a deal, the league has the ability to implement a season of its desired length, likely around 50 games, per a March 26 agreement between the sides, a move that probably would lead to a grievance from the players. The union surveyed player leadership about the proper path forward, cognizant that its decision could sour owners and prompt the league to implement a season instead of coming to a negotiated agreement.
In the deal MLB proposed, players would be paid their full prorated salaries — a total of $1.5 billion, or about 37% of their full-season salaries — and would receive another $25 million for postseason play and $33 million in forgiveness on the $170 million advance they received in the March agreement.
The postseason would expand from 10 to 16 teams for the next two seasons, and a designated hitter would be added to the National League in both years. MLB would donate $10 million to social justice initiatives and teams would be allowed to add advertisements to their uniforms, sources said.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers contributed to this report.
